swsantos
super member
Reged: 09/29/05
Loc: Rhode Island
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TV102 on Half Hitch smoothness Youtube video link
#3033017 - 04/08/09 09:33 PM Attachment (110 downloads)
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Here is a photo of my TV 102 on a Half Hitch. It's movements are as smooth and effortless as the Feathertouch focuser on the scope itself.
If you want to see a short video of how effortlessly it moves with great stability I put it on Youtube
TV102 on HH video
Yes it moves that easily with one finger and you can track with high power manually or with its great slow motion controls.
It is indeed like no other IMHO.
Steve
Edited by swsantos (04/10/09 08:34 PM)
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Fred1
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/19/07
Loc: Somewhere in the Orion Spur
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Re: TV102 on Half Hitch smoothness ... wanna see?
[Re: swsantos]
#3033090 - 04/08/09 10:31 PM
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Is that the Oberwerk tripod? How is it for support?
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zawijava
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/06/07
Loc: Wells, Maine 04090
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Re: TV102 on Half Hitch smoothness ... wanna see?
[Re: swsantos]
#3033128 - 04/08/09 11:01 PM
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Steve,
I'm hoping to put a FS-102 or TSA-102 onthe Half Hitch. Can you comment on the stability of the TV102; damping time; jitters while focusing etc?
Your setup looks very fine indeed 
thanks, Tim
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swsantos
super member
Reged: 09/29/05
Loc: Rhode Island
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Re: TV102 on Half Hitch smoothness ... wanna see?
[Re: Fred1]
#3033161 - 04/08/09 11:25 PM
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Yes its an Oberwerk blem special from Bigbinoculars.com and it works great. Only $79 and still yet to find the "blem". Its nicely stable
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swsantos
super member
Reged: 09/29/05
Loc: Rhode Island
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Re: TV102 on Half Hitch smoothness ... wanna see?
[Re: zawijava]
#3033212 - 04/08/09 11:55 PM
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The action of the slow motion controls is much like the Crayford action of the Feathertouch. Very little force/torque is needed to move the scope. Since it moves so easily with no starting friction there is minimal less than a second jitter and it is slight. You can also focus under high power while maintaing view intead of focus, wait for scope stop and focus again like my AT Voyager. I can also track manually without the slow motion controls using a 5mm NT6 (82 AFOV) and with some more experience I should also be able to track manually with the Nagler zoom at 5mm (50 AFOV). I did not expect for it to be as easy to move the scope accurately manually as it is with the controls. The analogy that comes to mind is that the HalfHitch glides like a new laser mouse does across a new mousepad compared to an old heavy ball mouse with a wire. The feeling of being able to accurately glide it to a position like sliding a mouse and having it stay put where you want it precisely when you let it go is striking. None of that overshoot/undershoot fiddling inherent in friction/backlash setups. I think its the lack of starting friction to overcome when you initiate a movement flowing into the same fluid force needed to keep it moving. Its as if the scope is suspended in mid air waiting to be turned on its balance axis. I know that sounds like hyperbole but it is accurate.
I imagine it should be well within its weight limits with any 102mm scope. This TV102 is pretty heavy with its starbeam, Feathertouch focuser, and heavy eyepieces ie 26mmT5. The mount does not feel like its operating near any weight limit, indeed the designer says it will work with an 8" SCT and 115mm refractor and I believe it.
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antilles72
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/06/07
Loc: Rhode Island
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Re: TV102 on Half Hitch smoothness ... wanna see?
[Re: swsantos]
#3034144 - 04/09/09 12:58 PM
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Sweet. What a nice setup.
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coopman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/23/06
Loc: South Louisiana
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Re: TV102 on Half Hitch smoothness ... wanna see?
[Re: antilles72]
#3034301 - 04/09/09 02:29 PM
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Can the mount be bought w/o the Sky Commander DSC's?
Looks like a wonderful set-up. I'm especially fond of the smooth slow motion controls.
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swsantos
super member
Reged: 09/29/05
Loc: Rhode Island
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Re: TV102 on Half Hitch smoothness ... wanna see?
[Re: coopman]
#3034468 - 04/09/09 04:06 PM
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Yes it can be bought without the DSC and then added later apparantly. I was sceptical about DSC coming from an LX200GPS go-to but the DSC is as accurate. There is also something more connected with the stars when you have to point the scope yourself under the DSC guidance as opposed to having the scope do all the work. And obviously the quietness (no noise) of DSC lends a more serene feel to observings instead of the coffee grinder whine of the Meade go-to.
You can see all the details at www.halfhitchtelescope.com
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zawijava
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/06/07
Loc: Wells, Maine 04090
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Re: TV102 on Half Hitch smoothness ... wanna see?
[Re: swsantos]
#3035564 - 04/10/09 07:25 AM
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Quote:
T Its as if the scope is suspended in mid air waiting to be turned on its balance axis. I know that sounds like hyperbole but it is accurate.
thanks Steve, I'm looking forward to my Mark III
Tim
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zawijava
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/06/07
Loc: Wells, Maine 04090
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Re: TV102 on Half Hitch smoothness ... wanna see?
[Re: Fred1]
#3035568 - 04/10/09 07:28 AM
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Quote:
Is that the Oberwerk tripod? How is it for support?
Steve, what sort of adapter was needed to attach the Half Hitch to the Oberwerk tripod? Off the shelf? Custom made?
Tim
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swsantos
super member
Reged: 09/29/05
Loc: Rhode Island
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Re: TV102 on Half Hitch smoothness ... wanna see?
[Re: zawijava]
#3035785 - 04/10/09 10:00 AM
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The Oberwek came with the right adapter. It came with a standard plate and allen bolt that threads directly into the HalfHitch. I have since had Charles from HalfHitch make me a start knob so I can use it tool free, but what came with the Oberwerk werked fine.
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Denimsky
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/21/07
Loc: BC, Canada
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Re: TV102 on Half Hitch smoothness ... wanna see?
[Re: coopman]
#3036132 - 04/10/09 12:53 PM
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Quote:
Can the mount be bought w/o the Sky Commander DSC's?
Looks like a wonderful set-up. I'm especially fond of the smooth slow motion controls.
Clay. I bought mine without the Sky Commander DSC because I already owned one. I got mine with the encoders installed though. Charles doesn't post the price of the mount without the DSC but if you email him, he will tell you the price. His customer service is top notch so he will answer all your questions very promptly.
You won't be disappointed by the Half Hitch mount. My HH Mark II supports TSA-102 and TMB105 rock stable yet with perfectly balance in both axis without any friction applied. It is light weighted as well. Charles's main focus is making the perfect grab & go mount without any compromises. The new MarkIII has pretty nice improvements over the Mark II as well.
Edited by Denimsky (04/10/09 12:56 PM)
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Denimsky
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/21/07
Loc: BC, Canada
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Re: TV102 on Half Hitch smoothness video
[Re: swsantos]
#3036143 - 04/10/09 12:59 PM
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Steve.
Thank you for the very nice mini review.
Is it possible for you to post the video on YouTube?
I've never posted a video on the YouTube so I'm not sure how difficult it is but that way more people can watch the video.
Clear Skies
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swsantos
super member
Reged: 09/29/05
Loc: Rhode Island
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Youtube
[Re: Denimsky]
#3036981 - 04/10/09 08:35 PM
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Now why didn't I think of that? Yes it was easy. I have edited the original post.
Thanks!
Steve 
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Loc: Sunny California
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Re: Youtube
[Re: swsantos]
#3037002 - 04/10/09 08:46 PM
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Wow! That looks like an incredibly smooth mount!
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Denimsky
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/21/07
Loc: BC, Canada
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Re: TV102 on Half Hitch smoothness Youtube video l
[Re: swsantos]
#3037152 - 04/10/09 10:13 PM
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Thank you for the video Steve.
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Manny Myles
Postmaster
Reged: 11/29/05
Loc: Far South of the flyover city ...
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Re: TV102 on Half Hitch smoothness Youtube video l
[Re: Denimsky]
#3038021 - 04/11/09 12:33 PM
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Looks VERY smooth and easy to slew around BUT that finger doing the pushing is huge so we have to take that into consideration!
Steve, Awesome set up you have there
m2
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Denimsky
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/21/07
Loc: BC, Canada
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Re: TV102 on Half Hitch smoothness ... wanna see?
[Re: zawijava]
#3038190 - 04/11/09 02:33 PM
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Tim.
Congratulation on you Half Hitch Mark III
My mark II is a near perfect grab&go mount but Charles always listens to the customers and improved his mounts and Mark III seems even better(Mark II plus kit will be available for existing mark II users)
You won't be disappointed by the mount.
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swsantos
super member
Reged: 09/29/05
Loc: Rhode Island
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Re: TV102 on Half Hitch smoothness Youtube video l
[Re: Manny Myles]
#3038652 - 04/11/09 07:29 PM
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The finger is actually quite small as it is attached to a 5 foot 6 inch man that wears adult small gloves.
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Waduino
sage
Reged: 10/24/08
Loc: Richmond Hill, Ontario
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Re: TV102 on Half Hitch smoothness Youtube video l
[Re: swsantos]
#3039710 - 04/12/09 12:12 PM
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I'd love to see a similar video with your eye at the eyepiece and your hands on the motion control knobs. I've been wondering all along about the reach required. Apparently it's quite comfortable, but I'd like to see out of curiosity.
Wad.
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